Matthew 3:1-6 TLB
[1] While they were living in Nazareth, John the Baptist began preaching out in the Judean wilderness. His constant theme was, [2] “Turn from your sins . . . turn to God . . . for the Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon.” [3] Isaiah the prophet had told about John’s ministry centuries before! He had written, “I hear a shout from the wilderness, ‘Prepare a road for the Lord-straighten out the path where he will walk.'” [4] John’s clothing was woven from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] People from Jerusalem and from all over the Jordan Valley, and, in fact, from every section of Judea went out to the wilderness to hear him preach, [6] and when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
Good Morning!
John The Baptist was, in today’s terms, a bit odd. He wore camel’s hair with a leather belt and ate locusts and wild honey. Not the typical diet of the day, but he was a man dedicated to his service as the one who prepared the way for his cousin, Jesus.
John’s message was simple — “turn from your sins… turn to God… for the Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon.” The older I get, the more I reflect on this. We are all mortal and have an expiration date. When we are young adults, the tendency is to ignore this fact as we have a life to build, trails to blaze, kingdoms to conquer, businesses to grow, families to raise, etc.
All of these things are good, when kept in balance with God’s plan for our lives, but it is all too easy to let these be what consumes us and we forget about “The Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon.” There’s one of two ways we are going to see the Kingdom of Heaven — (1) we’ll “go the way of all men” and take our last breath and enter into eternity or (2), Jesus will return to bring home His elect, those that have accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
Matthew 24:27,31 NKJV
[27] For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [31] And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
In either case, John’s message continues to ring throughout history — The Kingdom of God is coming soon and we need to be prepared. Let’s not be so distracted by what the world offers and forget about what eternity in Heaven has to offer. James tells us that life is like a morning fog, just appearing for a little while and then it is gone. When we put eternity into perspective, this life is really short and goes by all too quickly. It is for us to use this life for God’s plan and purpose and to be bear His light, building treasures in Heaven.
James 4:14 NLT
[14] How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
Matthew 6:20-21 NLT
[20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
I say all of this not put fear into anyone, but to let the warning from so long ago from John to still resonate and resound into the lives of all of us today. We are all here for a season just as so many before us. The remnant of God has been carried through history by His followers and it is up to us to carry it forward to the next generation.
I end this with the Words of Jesus that gives us the directive for living this life…
Matthew 6:33-34 NLT
[33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [34] “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I love you and am praying for you today.
Dad